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Mexico roll to seventh Gold Cup title with comfortable win over Jamaica Gold Cup 2015 final: Mexico roll to seventh title with easy win over Jamaica
(34 minutes later)
This time it was beyond dispute.This time it was beyond dispute.
Mexico are Gold Cup champions for a record seventh time after a comprehensive 3-1 victory over Jamaica at Philadelphia’s Lincoln Financial Field.Mexico are Gold Cup champions for a record seventh time after a comprehensive 3-1 victory over Jamaica at Philadelphia’s Lincoln Financial Field.
For all the controversy that underpinned El Tri’s progress through the tournament, it was an utterly convincing performance in Sunday’s final – powered by goals from Andrés Guardado, Jesús Corona and Oribe Peralta – that lifted Mexico to Concacaf supremacy before a sold-out crowd of 68,930.For all the controversy that underpinned El Tri’s progress through the tournament, it was an utterly convincing performance in Sunday’s final – powered by goals from Andrés Guardado, Jesús Corona and Oribe Peralta – that lifted Mexico to Concacaf supremacy before a sold-out crowd of 68,930.
It’s a familiar peak for Mexico, who previously won the biennial competition in 1993, 1996, 1998, 2003, 2009 and 2011.It’s a familiar peak for Mexico, who previously won the biennial competition in 1993, 1996, 1998, 2003, 2009 and 2011.
Things started auspiciously enough for the Reggae Boyz, who were awarded a free kick from a dangerous position after Jesús Dueñas was shown yellow for tugging Jobi McAnuff’s shirt seven minutes in. Jamaica sent three men surging into the area and when the ball curled inches off the mark, Mexico were lucky not to be 1-0 down. The momentum continued when Barnes played a perfect cross into Dawkins, who simply whiffed 12 yards from goal.Things started auspiciously enough for the Reggae Boyz, who were awarded a free kick from a dangerous position after Jesús Dueñas was shown yellow for tugging Jobi McAnuff’s shirt seven minutes in. Jamaica sent three men surging into the area and when the ball curled inches off the mark, Mexico were lucky not to be 1-0 down. The momentum continued when Barnes played a perfect cross into Dawkins, who simply whiffed 12 yards from goal.
The run of play began to turn around the 20-minute mark when Mexico won their first corner. It was corralled easily by Thompson, but from there El Tri looked more incisive in attack and began exploiting space along the wings.The run of play began to turn around the 20-minute mark when Mexico won their first corner. It was corralled easily by Thompson, but from there El Tri looked more incisive in attack and began exploiting space along the wings.
At 25 minutes, a header by Corona forced Thompson to fully extend himself for the save. Two minutes later a Peralta header landed squarely in the Jamaican keeper’s hands, but it was clear Mexico was taking advantage of spatial concessions that were untenable in the long term for Jamaica. The onslaught continued three minutes later when Corona uncorked a shot from inside the area that went narrowly wide of the far post.At 25 minutes, a header by Corona forced Thompson to fully extend himself for the save. Two minutes later a Peralta header landed squarely in the Jamaican keeper’s hands, but it was clear Mexico was taking advantage of spatial concessions that were untenable in the long term for Jamaica. The onslaught continued three minutes later when Corona uncorked a shot from inside the area that went narrowly wide of the far post.
By then Jamaica, so well-drilled throughout the tournament under German head coach Winfried ‘Winnie’ Schäfer, appeared harried and in disarray. At the half-hour mark Mexico was awarded a free kick when Rodolph Austin was booked for a foul on Guardado. The kick was taken short, played out wide then centered to Guardado, who smashed a left-footed volley home.By then Jamaica, so well-drilled throughout the tournament under German head coach Winfried ‘Winnie’ Schäfer, appeared harried and in disarray. At the half-hour mark Mexico was awarded a free kick when Rodolph Austin was booked for a foul on Guardado. The kick was taken short, played out wide then centered to Guardado, who smashed a left-footed volley home.
Now even further on the back heel, Jamaica caught a break five minutes from half-time when a clattering challenge by Austin, already on a yellow, went unpenalized by the referee Joel Aguilar.Now even further on the back heel, Jamaica caught a break five minutes from half-time when a clattering challenge by Austin, already on a yellow, went unpenalized by the referee Joel Aguilar.
A moment of inspiration by Garath McCleary just up the right flank led to a corner for Jamaica in first-half stoppage time, but Mexico’s back four stood tall and entered the break deservedly in front.A moment of inspiration by Garath McCleary just up the right flank led to a corner for Jamaica in first-half stoppage time, but Mexico’s back four stood tall and entered the break deservedly in front.
Whatever opportunity half-time offered Jamaica to reassess was rendered meaningless roughly one minute into the second half when Corona dispossessed Austin, muscled his way to the edge of the area and unleashed a left-footed shot past Thompson. Jamaica’s misery was only compounded just after an hour, when a grievous defensive error by Hector left Peralta in acres of space before a gaping goal, needing only the most elementary finish for his fourth goal of the tournament and a commanding 3-0 lead for Mexico.Whatever opportunity half-time offered Jamaica to reassess was rendered meaningless roughly one minute into the second half when Corona dispossessed Austin, muscled his way to the edge of the area and unleashed a left-footed shot past Thompson. Jamaica’s misery was only compounded just after an hour, when a grievous defensive error by Hector left Peralta in acres of space before a gaping goal, needing only the most elementary finish for his fourth goal of the tournament and a commanding 3-0 lead for Mexico.
At 72 minutes, Peralta nearly made it 4-0 with a left-footed shot that demanded Thompson’s acrobatic best.At 72 minutes, Peralta nearly made it 4-0 with a left-footed shot that demanded Thompson’s acrobatic best.
Jamaica pulled one back in the 80th minute with a clinical finish by Darren Mattocks to beat Ochoa at the far post, yet by then it was surely too little too late.Jamaica pulled one back in the 80th minute with a clinical finish by Darren Mattocks to beat Ochoa at the far post, yet by then it was surely too little too late.
The win vaults Mexico into a one-game playoff against the United States on 9 October for an automatic berth in the 2017 Confederations Cup – a matchup that’s already being touted as the most important meeting between the old rivals since their 2002 World Cup last-16 clash. The drama-free tenor of the outcome was in stark contrast with Mexico’s previous two matches of the knockout stage. They’d mustered only three goals in the quarter-finals against Costa Rica and the semi-finals against Panama. All three of those came from the penalty spot courtesy of Guardado, two on highly disputed calls.
The win vaults Mexico into a one-game playoff against the United States on 9 October for an automatic berth in the 2017 Confederations Cup in Russia – a matchup that’s already being touted as the most important meeting between the old rivals since their 2002 World Cup last-16 clash.